Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-01-22
WHAT IS A NEGRO.

puzzling questions has been "What
shall we do with the Negro? 2" The
most satisfactory answer we have heard
given to this query is: Open the in
stitutions of learning and industry to
him, give him an equal chance with
the white man, then let him alone
Then if he is worth living the world
will know it. If he is no good, let
him die. That is all the Negro asks
for himself and that is enough
A new question now presents itself
to many, and it is being asked all
around "What is the Negro-Is he
by nature inferior to the white man p
We might say such question should
not be entertained by intelligent
beings, then when we consider the
many reasons given for putting such a
question, we must admit that explana-
tions or theories for the seeming odd
ness of the. negro, may be offered.
The general weakness and shortcOm-
ings of the American Negro is the re-
suit of slavery. 1t is said they are
deceptive and untrustworthy, super
stitious, &C.; that they are deceitful
with the white man. He was taught
these things in slavery, and it is per-
fectly natural that he will teach his
child and that the child will inherit
something's.
The blood of black child is the
same as that of white child and his
skin no more indicates that he il an
idiotic sneak thief, than it tells that
he is a Garnet, CrummeIl an Elliott
or Price. A white skin no more in
dicates a Webster, Calhoun, an In.
gersoll or a Stephens than it does an
inebriate tramp. The natural likes,
dislikes, capabilities, weakness &C..
vary in the black race as in the white.
The early influences at home and il
the school room have telling and last
ing effect upon all children alike.
We find among the negroes appar-
emily, natural thief. The same is in
the white race. The drunkard, the
idiot and mad man are found alike in
one race as the other. The poet, the
musician and the orator is as numerous
among the negroes as the white and
all necessary is an equal chance to
reach the highest attainments. 1t is
unreasonable to expect an ex-slave to
compete with his master. The child
of the ex-slave should be free from the
influences that are tainted with slavisl
superstitions, which most natural,
follow him if he is brought up will
his parents; hence it should tax,
years to make the negro intellectually
morally as well as financially the equal
Of the white man; but being natural,
his equal, these things must all com
about in due course of time.
The negro is a man. Let US take
the fairest samples of the race to judge
BY. Take the best christian gentle
man Of the last twenty years. Those
who have merited the praise of the
country and have never done ought to
bring reproach upon themselves Men
like Bannaker, who let his mind go ur
and battle with the stars and heayenl,
bodies; L'Overture. who distinguish
ed himself as . soldier; Garnet. thu
Bible student and orator; Douglass,
the statesman and orator; Langston
the tutor, lawyer and orator; Elliott,
the Legislator; Gibbs, the judge ;
Wornly, Purvis, Stills Allan, Cole
man aud many other monied men, and
scores Of young men educators and
women too, who are great blessing
to our race. Let us judge the futur,
Attachments of the race by these. That
is the way we judge the white race.
What the white man is, that is the
negro also-good, bad and Indifferent.
Let each man who is interested in
this subject, live an upright Christian
life, learn all he can in good books
educate his children, acquire all the
property he can, and he will discover